title: Determinants of Latina obesity in the United States: the role of selective acculturation.
abstract: Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. Hispanic American women in particular have higher rates of obesity than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. In this article, the authors review the existing literature on acculturation as it relates to obesity and health behaviors among U.S. Hispanic women. In addition, a conceptual framework is proposed to examine factors contributing to obesity through "selective acculturation." This concept challenges traditionally held unilateral assumptions that underscore Hispanic women's unhealthful behavioral patterns by explaining a process whereby Hispanic women both maintain some older health-related behaviors and acquire new ones once they settle in a new culture.
authors.affiliation: Hunter College, City University of New York.
authors.forename: Ming-Chin
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yeh
authors.forename: Anahi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viladrich
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bruning
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roye
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D015992:Body Mass Index; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000208:ethnology; D008019:Life Style / Q000208:ethnology*; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009765:Obesity / Q000208:ethnology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology